Tue, Jul 29 | 7 – 8:30 pm HCLS Miller Branch For adults. Register at bit.ly/Author-Tidwell
Tidwell’s new book is a riveting and elegant story of climate change on one city street, full of surprises and true stories of human struggle and dying local trees. It’s set against the national backdrop of 2023’s record heat domes and raging wildfires and, simultaneously, rising hopes for clean energy. In 2023, author and activist Mike Tidwell decided to keep a record for a full year of the growing impacts of climate change on his one urban block right on the border with Washington, DC. A love letter to the magnificent oaks and other trees dying from record heat waves and bizarre rain, Tidwell’s story depicts the neighborhood’s battle to save the trees and combat climate change: The midwife who builds a geothermal energy system on the block, the Congressman who battles cancer and climate change at the same time, and the Chinese-American climate scientist who wants to bury billions of the world’s dying trees to store their carbon and help stabilize the atmosphere.
Mike Tidwell is a journalist, author, and climate activist living in Takoma Park, MD. As a past contributing writer for The Washington Post, he won four Lowell Thomas Awards, the highest prize in American travel journalism. He is a former National Endowment for the Arts fellow whose work has been published in Audubon, National Geographic Traveler, Orion, Washingtonian, and elsewhere.
The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue by Mike Tidwell is available in print, e-book, and e-audiobook.
Required Reading: Texts for Change is a new quarterly book club for readers who care about equity, community, and meaningful conversation. It’s for anyone who’s curious, committed to learning, and ready to grow—no matter where you’re starting from.
Each season, our group gathers around a thought-provoking book that invites us to see the world—and one another—a little differently. These are texts that challenge assumptions, offer fresh perspectives, and help us think more deeply about equity in our lives, our work, and the communities we live in. Howard County is a beautifully diverse place, home to people of many cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. And like many communities, we still face real challenges around access, opportunity, and belonging. Take advantage of the chance to slow down, reflect, and strengthen the ability to show up for one another with empathy and intention.
Read three nonfiction books throughout the year and one fiction title each summer—something lighter to make space for joy, imagination, and connection. Some of these books will stretch us. That’s the point. Growth happens when we’re willing to sit with complexity and listen deeply—to authors and to each other.
Our first title is Black Cakeby Charmaine Wilkerson, which is one of those books that subtly teaches you things about the world that you didn’t know – like the history of Chinese indentured servants in the Caribbean or that surfing isn’t the sole proprietary sport of blond dudes in California. Inspired by her own multi-ethnic Caribbean roots, author Charmaine Wilkerson manages to weave a history lesson seamlessly into a heart-tugging tale of family secrets.
Written in bite-sized chapters that move from past to present and back again, the story is woven together like grandma’s quilt. A little bit of love pinned here, a little bit of pain there. While the new ERCC book club will focus mostly on nonfiction titles, summers will be reserved for fictional getaways. Black Cake is the perfect inaugural book. Enough drama and intrigue to keep you hooked, while sharpening the mind and deepening the senses for of those committed to equity work in our own community.
Dr. Clark is the Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Officer at Howard County Library System.
Join nationally known adventure-travel journalist Peter Mandel for a thrilling virtual exploration of the world’s most remote and extreme locations. Mandel has chased stories from the deserts of Africa to the fjords of Norway, the mountain paths of Japan to the icy wilderness of Antarctica—often returning with unforgettable tales and striking photos.
In this dynamic storytelling event, Mandel shares gripping experiences from the field —surviving a coup in Ecuador, fishing for piranhas in Brazil, floating in the Goodyear Blimp, kayaking to the Statue of Liberty, visiting a ‘city’ of penguins at the South Pole, and more. Along the way, he’ll reveal how these real-life adventures are transformed into powerful prose for today’s newspapers, magazines, and books.
Peter Mandel’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, National Geographic Kids, The Los Angeles Times, and more. He has published eleven children’s books, with titles exhibited at the Smithsonian, the American Museum of Natural History, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His books have been translated into several languages, including Japanese, German, Dutch, Swedish, and Danish. Based in Rhode Island, he shares his home with his wife, Kathy, and their rescue cats, Emily and Cecil.
This all-ages virtual program is perfect for curious minds, aspiring writers, world travelers, and armchair adventurers alike. Don’t miss this unforgettable journey around the globe—from the comfort of home.
Participants and caregivers step into the fun and active world of Beyond Words, a vibrant and inclusive monthly class designed to spark joy and ignite the imagination of young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. at the East Columbia Branch of Howard County Library System.
by Sahana C.
Libraries aspire to be welcoming, inclusive spaces for everyone. During Disability Pride Month this July, we want to highlight Beyond Words, one of our sensory-friendly classes designed with and for neurodivergent individuals — and anyone who benefits from a more adaptable, engaging learning environment!
Disability Pride Month reminds us to honor the uniqueness of every individual and to recognize disability as an essential part of human diversity. We know that learning looks different for everyone, and that’s something worth celebrating. Beyond Words is a do-it-yourself sort of class, with an emphasis on creativity, movement, and hands-on activities built around themed, sensory-rich stations. From arts and crafts to motor skills and movement play, the program encourages joy, exploration, and connection in ways that feel comfortable and are accessible. Beyond Words started at Miller Branch, but the class has now spread to the East Columbia, Central, and Savage Branches, with an option for every age group.
This year, we’re really excited about the Beyond Words Summer Reading game, too! While Summer Reading began on June 1, it’s not too late to pick up a specially designed gameboard at any HCLS branch or the mobile library. Like our traditional summer reading program, this version encourages participants to read, explore, and complete activities — but it’s been thoughtfully adapted to meet different needs and learning styles. The goal? To make summer reading more inclusive, flexible, and most of all, fun for everyone. The Beyond Words gameboard includes a variety of ways to participate and celebrate progress. There’s no one right way to take part—just lots of opportunities to discover new interests, build confidence, and enjoy the magic of stories and imagination.
Teen Beyond Words Wed, Jul 23 | 6 – 7:30 pm HCLS East Columbia Branch For 11-17. Register at bit.ly/TBW_723 For teens with learning/developmental disabilities. Come and participate at five different activity stations. This month’s theme: SUMMER.
Sahana is an Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS Savage Branch. They enjoy adding books to their “want to read” list despite having a mountain of books waiting for them already.
Two years, five months, and seventeen days. That’s how long it took for President Lincoln’s Executive Order 95 to reach the last group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. Lincoln’s executive order, better known as the Emancipation Proclamation, declared freedom for all enslaved people in confederate states. Most slave owners chose not to inform their slaves of their freedom. But on June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger finally brought the message of freedom to Galveston. Juneteenth celebrations spread quickly throughout the South and persisted through hardships like the Great Depression and Jim Crow laws, finally being recognized as federal holiday in 2021.
Clint Smith visited Galveston to examine the history and celebration of Juneteenth in his book How the Word is Passed. Each chapter sees Smith explore different historic sites with significant slavery ties like Angola Prison, Whitney Plantation, and Gorée Island in Senegal. Do these sites distort the past in an effort to diminish the pain of enslaved people? Or do they educate and atone?
Throughout his journey, Smith ponders how differently the US might look if all Americans could reckon with the atrocities of slavery and the legacy left in its wake. It might be difficult and uncomfortable for some to read about the violence and suffering that enslaved people were forced to endure, but it’s a component of American history that cannot be ignored.
Part of what makes How the Word is Passed so wonderful is Smith’s approach to the project. During his travels, he interacts with tour guides, locals, and tourists to learn their perspectives and reflections. During his Monticello visit he meets two older women who were shocked to learn that Thomas Jefferson was a slaveowner. “It just took his shine off,” one woman remarked. “He might’ve done great things, but boy did he have a big flaw.”
Smith, a poet and a former high school English teacher in Prince George’s County, wrote this book with his students in mind and it shows. Smith’s prose is incredibly informative and impactful as he interrogates American history. I hope that one day soon this will be required reading.
TONIGHT: Songs of Freedom: Journey Along the Underground Railroad For everyone. Wed, Jun 18 | 7 – 8:30 pm Carroll Baldwin Hall | 9035 Baltimore St, Savage Harriet Tubman’s story comes alive through traditional code songs, modern melodies, and authentic narration. Journey along the Underground Railroad with historian Linda Harris as she chronicles her annual charity walks through the lens of local African American history. Linda Harris is the Director of Events and Programming at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center in Cambridge, MD. Learn more about Linda Harris and the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center at harriettubmanmuseumcenter.org Registration is optional. Register to receive email reminders and updates about this class. Seating is first-come, first-served. In partnership with Carroll Baldwin Hall
To say that “men” in women’s sports is a hot-button issue would be an understatement.
Many individuals have a knee-jerk emotional reaction to this topic; far fewer know the facts about transgender or intersex athletes. I’d bet even fewer know that gender anxieties in relation to sports are nothing new – in fact, they date back over a century. For example: mandatory medical exams, to ‘prove the womanhood’ of female athletes, were first popularized by a Nazi sports physician for the 1936 Olympics. Sex testing would become more prominent in the following decades, particularly in the context of the Cold War. Such is one bit of history unveiled in The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sportsby Michael Waters.
As indicated by its title, this nonfiction book addresses political, social, cultural, and scientific developments in the early twentieth century. Waters digs deep into the history of professional, international athletics, exploring the forces that impacted where, and by whom, sports could be played – particularly at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games in Nazi Germany. The idea of women playing sports, whether leisurely or professionally, was enough to cause public (primarily male) concern and outrage in this time period. The founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, declared that female athletes did not, “constitute a sight to be recommended before the crowds I gather for an Olympiad.”
On a surface level, it’s not difficult to imagine why there’s a patriarchal bias regarding athletics – consider how current broadcasts of women’s sports get less viewership and the teams get fewer resources than their male counterparts. Dig a bit deeper, and you quickly run into norms about what a female body is ‘supposed’ to look like. Notice how women are ridiculed and called “manly” when they are seen as too muscular? Think about how many people now accuse female athletes with ‘masculine’ characteristics – a square jawline, a broad nose, wide shoulders, a small chest – of being male.
This is the cruel irony of the anti-trans “defending women’s sports” issue; it doesn’t just target trans people. It significantly harms cisgender women by policing their bodies and appearances, too, especially women of color and intersex women. This fixation on gender conformity in sports – specifically women being ‘feminine’ enough – can be traced back decades, to when women were discouraged from playing sports at all. Fear-mongering abounded regarding the ‘masculinizing’ effects that playing sports, especially sports that were accessible to working-class women. As Waters paraphrases the British paper The Daily Herald, “women who participated in ‘masculine’ sports like soccer or track and field risked creating a third category of sex.”
These cultural fears were elevated by news of Zdeněk Koubek and Mark Weston – each assigned female at birth and raised as girls – publicly transitioning to living as men, in 1935 and 1936 respectively. Because both Koubek and Weston had formerly won titles in the Women’s World Games, an international competition similar to the Olympics, their gender revelations had significant influence on discourse regarding women’s sports, including paranoia that male athletes could ‘pose’ as women to win professional competitions.
With an engrossing narrative approach, Waters traces the histories of Koubek and Weston along with the stories of key bureaucrats in the sports world, such as Alice Milliat, founder of the Women’s World Games, and Avery Brundage, an American sports administrator who climbed his way to Olympic leadership. Whether you’re interested in athletics, politics, or gender, you’re sure to glean knowledge from Waters’ depth of research. This is a great read for all history lovers who relish in learning little-known facts, woven together in personal and national narratives, as well as anyone who is concerned (or simply confused) about the culture wars around gender and women’s sports.
The Other Olympians is available in print and as an e-audiobook from Libby.
Interested in a brighter side of queer history? Learn about drag history and makeup on June 17, 7 – 8:30 pm at HCLS Central Branch for You Betta Werk!The Art & History of Drag. Free makeup will be given to attendees, while supplies last, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ash is an Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS Central Branch with a passion for information literacy and community engagement. They love music, gardening, hiking, and cuddling with their golden retriever.
Organized in partnership with The Denyce Graves Foundation (DGF), the Hidden Voices exhibit illuminates the untold stories of marginalized musicians who shaped American classical music. It is dedicated to uncovering the contributions of composers, musicians, and educators of color whose work has often been overlooked in mainstream history.
Founded by renowned opera singer Denyce Graves, DGF seeks to bring these hidden figures to the forefront, ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve. Through Hidden Voices, DGF aims to expand the public’s understanding of the multicultural roots of classical music, highlighting the diverse individuals who made groundbreaking contributions.
The exhibit presents a rich collection of artifacts, music, and multimedia presentations, all designed to engage visitors and foster a deeper appreciation of the diverse voices that have shaped America’s vocal arts. Not just a tribute to the past, the installation also serves as a platform for emerging artists. By showcasing the achievements of those who have come before, Hidden Voices offers inspiration to young artists from all backgrounds, empowering them to pursue careers in the arts without limitations. This initiative is part of the DGF’s broader mission to promote inclusion, access, and representation in the classical music world, providing opportunities for all artists to thrive.
Tour the Hidden Voices exhibition on the second level of the Central Branch in the Equity Resource Center and Collection (ERCC) in June and July. Drop by during regular library hours to view.
Who’s counting the days until the end of school? Kids, of course, and teachers, no doubt. Even parents and caregivers may be looking forward to more flexible days and freedom from regular routines — a break from alarms, homework, and heavy backpacks.
At the library, however, we are counting the days until summer and gathering our energy, because your downtime is our opportunity — we can’t wait to spend more time with you! In fact, we’re throwing a summer-long party to celebrate the 85th birthday of HCLS and all the ways our community comes together through the library to learn, grow, and connect.
Let’s get the party started! Starting Monday, June 2, visit any branch for your Summer Reading game, complete with reading and activity ideas, prizes, and special events. WHO IS INVITED? EVERYONE!
Visit hclibrary.org/summer often for all your summer reading information and details.
Ages birth – 4 Children ages birth-4 learn, grow, and make connections by singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing. Read or do an activity from the suggestions, and color in a balloon. Ages 5 – 10 Read, listen, learn, connect, and celebrate. Each time you read or do an activity, color in a candy. Keep reading! For both children’s games: Pick up a prize after completing 10 books and/or activities before August 31, while supplies last. Teens: 11 – 18 Earn raffle tickets whenever you read, attend classes, borrow items, or complete challenges. When you complete 10 tickets, visit a branch to receive a prize and be entered into the grand prize drawing. Continue to submit raffle tickets all summer. Adults: 18+ The third annual Adult Reading Challenge offers unique reading challenges and complimentary reading recommendations. Complete three or more challenges by the end of August, or read three or more books of your own choosing. Complete a finisher’s card and be automatically entered into our prize drawings. All finishers also receive a limited-edition prize, while supplies last!
Summer Reading Celebrations For everyone. Join us to celebrate 85 years of the Library and all things summer reading with activities for all ages. Wed, Jun 25 from 3 – 6 pm at HCLS East Columbia Branch Wed, Jun 25 from 5 – 8 pm at HCLS Central Branch Wed, Jul 9 from 5 – 8 pm at HCLS Elkridge Branch Sat, Jul 12 from 11 am – 1 pm at HCLS Savage Branch Wed, Aug 13 from 4 – 7 pm at HCLS Glenwood Branch Thu Aug 21 from 6 – 8 pm at HCLS Miller Branch Celebrations sponsored in part by Friends & Foundation of HCLS.
Jaya Mathur is back at HCLS Miller Branch on Thursday, May 29 from 7 to 8 pm to teach us the basic steps of Bollywood dancing. Rock On With Bollywood is a lively, beginner-friendly class for adults that invites participants to explore the colorful world of Bollywood dance. In this interactive session, Jaya introduces us to basic steps and gestures inspired by Bollywood films—India’s globally beloved movie industry known for its music, energy, and expressive storytelling. You don’t need any dance experience to join in—just a willingness to move, smile, and have fun! It’s a great way to learn something new, connect with your community, and enjoy a little bit of Bollywood magic—right at your library.
Register below to attend. Space is limited, so sign up today to reserve a spot.
“A bold and soaring work of history …whip-smart, deeply researched, and beautifully written.” ~ Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of King: A Life
The heart-pounding true story of the daring American women who piloted the most dangerous aircraft of World War II through the treacherous skies of Britain. They were crop dusters and debutantes, college girls and performers in flying circuses–all of them trained as pilots. Because they were women, they were denied the opportunity to fly for their country when the United States entered the Second World War. But Great Britain, desperately fighting for survival, would let anyone serve in this capacity: even Americans, even women piloted warplanes. Thus, 25 daring young aviators bolted for England in 1942, becoming the first American women to command military aircraft.
In a faraway land, these “spitfires” lived like women decades ahead of their time. Risking their lives in one of the deadliest jobs of the war, they ferried new, barely tested fighters and bombers to air bases and returned shot-up wrecks for repair, never knowing what might go wrong until they were high in the sky. Many ferry pilots died in crashes or made spectacular saves. It was exciting, often terrifying work. The pilots broke new ground off duty as well, shocking their hosts with thoroughly modern behavior.
With cinematic sweep, Becky Aikman follows the stories of nine of the women who served, drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and records, along with her own interviews, to bring these forgotten heroines fully to life. Spitfires is a vivid, richly detailed account of war, ambition, and a group of remarkable women whose lives were as unconventional as their dreams.
Becky Aikman is the author of two books of narrative nonfiction: her memoir, Saturday Night Widows (available as an e-book from CloudLibrary and an e-audiobook from Libby), and Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge. A former journalist at Newsday, Aikman has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. She lives in New York.
CHAPTER CHATS 